Alan Ritchson Says Batman Won’t Happen in DCU

Reacher star Alan Ritchson has moved to cool ongoing chatter about him joining the DCU as Batman, saying he’s spoken with DC about working together but that the Caped Crusader “isn’t in the cards” for him. At San Diego Comic-Con 2026, he also teased that DC conversations are centered on a different character—one he wouldn’t name.

Key takeaways

Alan Ritchson confirmed he will not be playing Batman in the DCU.
He said he has had discussions with DC about “another character” instead of Bruce Wayne.
At SDCC 2026, Ritchson emphasized he never wants to mislead fans about potential roles.
He stopped short of a full denial of a future Batman appearance, but indicated it’s unlikely.
DC plans to introduce its new Gotham via the Clayface movie releasing later this year, with Batman: The Brave and the Bold still on the horizon.

Ritchson addresses the Batman rumors

Speaking during a Reacher panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2026, Alan Ritchson addressed rumors that he could portray the next Batman in the DCU. He said the topic comes up constantly and explained that he tries not to “lead somebody on” into thinking he might be involved as the Dark Knight.

Ritchson acknowledged that he has had conversations with DC about collaborating on a project. While he framed his comments in a way that keeps the door slightly ajar—he said he never says “never”—he also made his position clear: he doesn’t think Batman is likely to be his DC role.

He added that the uncertainty surrounding the idea has lingered for a long time, and that both sides appear to be in ongoing contact. Despite the continued speculation around Bruce Wayne, Ritchson indicated that any Batman scenario is not something he expects to happen soon.

A different role is the focus

When pressed again by fans at SDCC 2026, Ritchson didn’t confirm any specific part. Instead, he teased that DC and he are “having conversations about another character,” while reiterating that Batman is not the direction he expects.

That “another character” comment reignited audience excitement, but Ritchson declined to identify who he might be discussing. For now, DC’s casting plans for its Batman still aren’t publicly pinned down.

What DC has planned while Batman waits

Even though the DCU’s Batman has not been publicly cast, DC is preparing to expand its new Gotham with its Clayface movie, which is scheduled to hit theaters later this year. The project is part of the broader slate being driven forward by DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran.

Looking further ahead, DC’s Batman: The Brave and the Bold is expected to arrive in the future, and the article notes that The Batman Part 2 is positioned to help bridge the gap for audiences while that next Batman project develops.